Session Zero

I'm starting a new ShadowDark Campaign. Four players. Roll 20. Mondays 7pm to 10pm. And for the first time, for me, livestreaming the games on YouTube. Something I, and the others, swore never to do. But here we are. 

Session Zero(s)

Each time I start a new campaign I like running one-on-one sessions for each player coming into the the game. I feel this is the best way to get players invested into a campaign world by allowing them to create relationships independently from the party. They can carry these into the game and their significance lasts as long as the player wishes it to last. Here is a quick list of things I try to address during a session zero. 

• This time around players rolled up their characters independently. Expect Joe. I have to keep an eye on Joe.
• I have a handful of house rules and go over them and answer any questions.
• We discuss the particulars of the character. Sometimes (rarely) do they have goals or traits that would drive them. Old school players tend to go light on this because the character could die before Charisma is rolled. 
• I usually do short write ups about their character and how he or she fits into the campaign world. This includes what knowledge the character would possess going in. A guide. A short one. One of the frustrations I always had as a player is going into a campaign world then doing something my character would have known not to do. Well. Maybe.
• I introduce NPCs through a role-play. Who knows the character. Friend and foe. Possibly and employer. Family. A pet. Whatever jives with the character.
• The latter half of the session is used to go exploring. A short adventure. I use this time to work out kinks in the character and to explore the system of combat and how house rules come into play. This is not going to be a deadly adventure (but damn near). 
• My session zero can creep into two sessions. I think two sessions are the best. I think a lot of character building can happen in those sessions.
• Then the characters come together. With them they carry their own experiences, friends, enemies and knowledge separate from the group. I believe this adds a nice dynamic to play.

Let me present you the cast of characters. When I say characters I mean the players.

JoetheLawyer. A master level shit stirrer and moocher. My cohort on Monday nights where we talk about gaming things. Soon to be transformed into the ShadowDark game. He rolled excellent. He made Columbo a dwarven fighter. His name theme is of 70s TV detectives. Joe decided not to roll up a backup character because he is overconfident in his ability to keep his characters alive. 

Paul aka Flint Fireforge on YouTube. Paul is new to the group. I do like introducing and getting a new player into my games. Paul played in a couple of one shots and fit right in. Glad to have him along for the ride. Paul is playing Elinar Digby an elf witch. Digby the name. His backup character is Wulf a half-orc wizard. 

Ken, who used to author The Rusty Battle Axe blog in the way back. Ken is my veteran player. He's been in many of my games and I've been in his games. Ken always comes up with great characters. He chose to play...well, I don't know. He hasn't sent them to me. It's always the ones that you've played with for years that take advantage of you. 

Lastly, Vance A of the Leicester's Ramble blog has joined the group. Known Vance for years and we've played on and off, but I think this is the first long campaign he's joined. I think. He's decided to play Bolggah a goblin wizard. We got together earlier this week and ran through his session zero. That'll be the next post. And his backup character is Estol an elven priest. 

. 

So that is how I use my session zero. I'm aware a character may die quickly. I don't fudge dice and sometimes it sucks when a PC goes down, but that's part of the fun playing an deadly game.